Is it a sign of things to come? A family in Western Australia with 13,000 hectares is making the move back into merinos after running a flock of dorpers in conjunction with a large cropping operation.
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The dorper ewes were sold in a changeover to buy 3000 5½ -year-old ewes from several different sources. The family plans to lift ewe numbers to 6000 head.
They managed the changeover with merino ewes costing less than what the dorpers fetched. They also had to buy a swag of merino rams, as well as investing in a new shearing shed and yards. They cited being attracted by the buoyant wool market, ryegrass resistance and indifferent rainfall.
Their action could herald a move by other farmers to head towards the better returns emerging in wool growing.
Also attractive for those moving into merinos is the growing availability of merino rams that have been bred for carcase attributes, producing lambs that directly target prime lamb markets.
